Brussels, 27 January 2026 — How can Vocational Education and Training (VET) become a strategic pillar for Europe’s social, economic and democratic future? This question was at the heart of a high-level workshop organised under VET4EU2, a network of European VET provider associations, bringing together VET providers, stakeholders and EU institutions to contribute to the design of the upcoming European VET Strategy.
The workshop marked the beginning of a longer, structured process aimed at collecting evidence, practices from the grassroot level, priorities and needs directly from the VET ecosystem, ensuring that the strategy is firmly grounded in practice, innovation and real-world challenges.
A shared ambition for Europe’s future
Discussions highlighted a shared ambition: positioning VET not only as a skills-delivery system, but as a strategic public infrastructure for Europe’s green and digital transitions, social cohesion, competitiveness and resilience. This broader understanding of VET positions it not only as a response to labour market shortages and skills mismatches, but also as a driver of social inclusion, digital transformation, territorial cohesion and long-term societal resilience.
A collaborative and evidence-based methodology
The workshop was designed as a participatory and policy-oriented dialogue, structured around thematic clusters that enabled in-depth discussion while ensuring coherence across topics. Participants engaged in facilitated exchanges to identify priorities, gaps and formulate concrete recommendations, building on evidence from best practices by grassroot VET providers, organisations and associations. The active presence of representatives from EU institutions, including the European Commission, provided a valuable opportunity for direct exchange and mutual listening between policymakers and the VET community. This methodology reflects a clear commitment to co-creation, collective intelligence, and continuous dialogue with EU institutions, ensuring that future policy choices are informed by operational realities and proven practice.
Thematic exchanges for actionable recommendations
Across the sessions, several cross-cutting themes clearly emerged:
- Learners, inclusion and lifelong pathways, including wellbeing, attractiveness of VET, flexible pathways for lifelong learning, recognition and portability of skills;
- Quality, innovation and skills relevance, with a strong focus on teachers and trainers, curricula update, Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) and innovation ecosystems;
- Governance, partnerships and EU’s global role, addressing sustainable funding, stronger cooperation with industry and SME’s, internationalisation and EU’s positioning in global VET and skills agendas.
Together, these priorities underline the need for a systemic, ecosystem-based European VET strategy that sustainably supports learners, providers, teachers, employers and territories over the next decade and beyond.
A collective effort across Europe
The workshop was jointly prepared by six European VET provider associations involved in the VET4EU2 network, working closely with members and partner organisations to ensure diversity of perspectives and policy relevance. The active presence of representatives from EU institutions, including the European Commission, provided a valuable opportunity for direct exchange and mutual listening between policymakers and the VET community.
The beginning of a longer journey
This event does not conclude the conversation – it launches it. The insights gathered will feed into an ongoing process of evidence collection, consultation and policy reflection, with the shared objective of ensuring that the next European VET Strategy fully reflects the realities, ambitions and transformative potential of vocational education and training across Europe. The VET4EU2 network will work together on the future of VET.
A word of thanks
The VET4EU2 partners warmly thank the entire VET community that contributed with their expertise, experience and vision, as well as the European institutions for engaging in open dialogue and listening to the voices of those shaping VET on the ground. Together, we are laying the foundations for a future-oriented, inclusive and resilient European VET system.
Arja Flinkman, Vice-President, EfVET
Theodor Grassos, Secretary General, EVBB
Giulia Meschino, Secretary-General, EVTA
Scilla van Cuijlenborg, Vice-President, EUproVET
John Edwards, Secretary-General, EURASHE
Tamer Atabarut, Steering Committee member, Eucen
